I Timothy 3

¹True is the saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, discreet, orderly, hospitable, apt in teaching;

³not given to wine, not a striker, but forbearing, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money;

⁴presiding well over his own house, having his children in subjection with all propriety; —

⁵for if a man knoweth not how to preside over his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God—

⁶not a new convert, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil;

⁷moreover he must also have a good report from them that are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil.

⁸Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of base gain,

⁹holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

¹⁰And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they are without reproach.

¹¹The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

¹²Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

¹³For they that have served well as deacons, gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴These things write I to thee, hoping to come to thee shortly;

¹⁵but if I should tarry long, that thou mayst know how thou oughtest to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

¹⁶And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness, in him who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.

I Timothy 3

¹This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

³Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

⁴One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

⁵(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

⁶Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

⁷Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

⁸Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

⁹Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

¹⁰And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

¹¹Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

¹²Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

¹³For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

¹⁵But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

¹⁶And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.